Vanities, life reflected back

Between scenes, Jennifer Sue Johnson as Joanne, Cayman Ilika as Kathy, and Billie Wildrick as Mary return to their Vanities Photo: Chris Bennion

Vanities a new musical, follow three young baby boomers from high school into adulthood. This roller coaster ride through the lives of three women will only appeal to certain people. You will enjoy this if you are a woman, have dated a woman, married or been married to a woman, know a woman and have a passable understanding of the ‘60s. So anyone newly rescued from a deserted island and children under 15 may not get into it.

Like any good roller coaster, it starts off slow. So slow, many people might not see it. The house lights are up and the stage is quiet. With mirrored panels and large white light balls, the stage looks like a big vanity mirror. The audience literally looking into the looking glass. Inside the stage vanity are three, one for each character, vanities. I didn’t notice the woman slip on stage and start working on her makeup. While people were still looking for their seats, the other two women came on stage to sit in front of their mirror. The ride had started and many had not even noticed.

In a case of art imitating life, we are taken through a few times in the lives of these three friends that define who they are. First as high school cheerleaders in 1963, then sorority sisters in 1968, friends getting together in 1974 and life beyond. These aren’t just moments that define the women, but the country as well.

Life and love takes these women in three very different directions. Billie Wildrick as Mary makes a transformation from third fiddle of the small town group to woman of the world. You can see Mary come out of her shell with each passing scene.

Billie Wildrick as Mary, singing for the rafters in Vanities: A New Musical at ACT Theatre Photo: Chris Bennion

Kathy (Cayman Ilika) is the leader, but heavy is the head that wear the homecoming crown. If you have ever been to high school you have met someone like her. Queen of the school, but what’s next?

Jennifer Sue Johnson as Joanne, the girl with lofty goals of becoming a housewife, disappears so completely into her role I did not recognize her on the promotional poster. While not all who wander are lost, not everyone with a roadmap get to where they are going.

Their lives exposed metaphorically and almost literally as costume changes happen on stage, Vanities, a new musical is one of those musicals where you can sit back and enjoy the ride, but have lots to think about after you leave the theatre. Everyone will take away something different. Women will be able to relate at least one of the characters and what they are going through and men have dated at least one of them. This is one of those shows that are perfect to see with a date or a friend and then talk about later. But it is only enjoyable if you have ever met a woman.